Description: Due to the physical isolation and the remarkable climatological stability of this area over the last 40 million years, there is exceptional biodiversity and literally there are thousands of plant and animal species that are not found anywhere else on earth. Bird watching is especially rewarding and the views from the mountaintops stretch over the Masai Steppe and, on a clear day, as far as the Indian Ocean. While not on most safari itineraries, the Usambara Mountains provide one of the friendliest and most scenic areas of Tanzania. Most people stay in Lushoto where the altitude keeps the weather cool and there is a nice selection of budget and mid-range hotels. The Usambara Mountains near Lushoto are not actually part of a reserve or national park and the area is densely populated.
Within the Usambara region is Amani Reserves. This is one of Tanzania’s most attractive yet unvisited destinations, with wonderful scenery, impressive flora and fauna, and one of Africa’s largest botanical gardens. There are also enough hiking trails to keep one busy for weeks. This is a birdwatchers dreamland with 335 recorded species. There are few large mammals but several primates can be spotted. This is a great place for hikers and for those who want to get off the beaten path. Like the Usambara Mountains, this is a great place to spend a few days, have a great time, and save money on the budget.
Location: Lushoto is approximately half-way between Dar es Salaam and Moshi, reachable only by an approximately 4-hour drive from either.
Things 2 Do: Cultural visits, Hiking, Biking
Time: Plan to spend from a half-day to 4 days. Paths get muddy during the rainy seasons.
Animals: An impressive variety of small animals and birds. Amani Reserves has 335 recorded bird species and several primates.
Accommodations
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Irente View Cliff Lodge
Lawns Hotel
Muller’s Mountain Lodge
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Babu’s Camp
“The entire trip was superbly planned, down to the tiniest details. In the planning stages, Casey was very receptive to what we were looking to do and was very straightforward about the pros and cons of each aspect of the trip. Once it was booked, he was very helpful with helping us plan and figure out what to expect when we got there. All of his recommendations and bits of advice were spot on. In particular, they went above and beyond when we had a problem during the trip. My wife had a reaction to one of the medications she was taking and we needed to seek out a doctor. Casey, our guide Maningo, and the rest of the A2T crew were on top of it, calling us in the middle of Ngorongoro Crater to make sure we got what we needed. Casey and Maningo got a local American doctor on the phone to consult, and we managed to fix the problem pretty quickly. Everybody was wonderful in a moment where we were feeling a bit nervous about what to do.”